1969 Porsche 911S Targa

The best of Porsche's 2-liter engines meets open-air driving enjoyment

Feature Article from Hemmings Motor News

Porsche hoped to satiate its buyers' appetites for an open-top sports car in late '66 with the introduction of the Targa as a 1967 model.
The idea was sound: Integrate a roll-over hoop beneath a decorative stainless steel cover and then install a removable, folding top that stretched forward from the bar to the windshield frame. Rear of the bar, a canvas cover with a plastic window was intended to seal out the elements. The problem was... it didn't. The tops (front and rear) leaked and the plastic rear window was like looking through a clear garbage bag, until, of course, it turned yellow and you couldn't look through it at all. The concept, if not the execution, was a hit, nevertheless, so Porsche engineers kept at the Targa design until it actually worked.
In 1969, though its huggably sporty looks remained all but subtly unchanged, Porsche's 911 received some substantial improvements across the board.
The rear trailing arms were lengthened, which increased the wheelbase by 2.4 inches to 89.4 inches, but the engine remained in the same position in the chassis, thus enhancing the car's stability. The wheel openings were given a slight flair to make room for larger rolling stock, and to further aid handling and offset the weight of the engine, two 12-volt, 35 amp batteries (replacing the single battery in previous 911s) were mounted ahead of the front wheels.
The barely adequate heating and ventilation of the older models was upgraded with a new three-speed fan and, on Targa models, air vents were positioned in the roll bar. Fixed rear glass also became standard on the Targa, while the plastic window remained an option until 1971.
The 911 was offered in three variations for 1969: the carbureted 911T, as well as the fuel-injected 911E and 911S.
The performance-oriented S boasted a 170hp 2-liter, air-cooled flat-four with 9.9:1 compression and 45 millimeter intake/39 millimeter exhaust valves. This was clearly the best performance ever achieved from the venerable 2-liter; in fact, Car and Driver managed a surprising 6.5-second 0-to-60 mph dash in a 911S.
The 911 E and S models rode on 6x15-inch wheels and 185/70/15 tires, while the base T made do with 5.5x15s. (The T and E could also be had with 5.5x14-inch wheels.) Behind the larger wheels, 911 E and S models also sported vented front disc brakes.
Inside, 911s were equipped with a smaller steering wheel that was now padded in the center, a windshield mounted day/night rearview mirror, and the heater controls were moved to the floor next to the shifter and the hand throttle. Porsche also added four-way flashers and a glove-box light for 1969.
While a new 911 Targa S would've set you back $8,315 in 1969, today a nicely restored example would easily bring five times that amount, according to price guides. Supply isn't likely to keep up with current demand for these cars either, as Porsche built just 614 911S Targas and only a handful were produced with the soft rear window.

This article originally appeared in the June, 2008 issue of Hemmings Motor News.